A bridge, the Budget and my Members’ bill

I was with Transport Minister Michael Wood last week as he announced the bridge that will reconnect Coromandel, deemed by project managers and consulting engineers to be the fastest and most resilient solution.

° e Budget 2023 Flood and Cyclone recovery package includes $100 million ˝ ood protection funding, $35.4 million in on-farm support, and employment schemes. Food security is close to my heart, so I’m delighted by the additional $6 million provided for the Food Secure Communities programme to support community food providers like foodbanks and food rescue organisations, to meet increased demand.

My bill was drawn in last week’s Members’ bill ballot! ° e Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill intends to reduce the harm that family violence causes by allowing victims of family violence to dissolve a marriage or civil union without having to be separated for two years.

° e Government’s new comprehensive 2023 Winter Plan, led by Te Whatu Ora, will ease pressure on the health system during colder months, making it easier for New Zealanders to get care early, and in many cases closer to home. Initiatives include ‘hospital in the home’ services, community rapid response tools to protect those most vulnerable, and free access to pharmacy consultations and paracetamol for children and Community Services cardholders. Having a warm home is an essential part of preventing respiratory illnesses through the winter season and lowers the risk of other health issues. ° e Winter Energy Payment started again May 1 and runs through to October 1.

Our economic engine must start humming again!

Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon has released National’s plan to restore ÿ scal discipline, curtail wasteful spending and ensure that public ÿ nances are reported clearly. National will focus on funding frontline services such as schools and hospitals.

National’s leader has shared three initiatives aimed at ensuring ÿ scal discipline: Annual reports from Treasury on the performance and results of major programmes; clearly itemised receipts from IRD showing what tax has been paid, what credits have been received and where your taxes were spent in the public service; and government department CEOs and deputies will have their salaries linked to achievement, ensuring accountability and greater performance.

Government agencies should monitor programmes, collect data, and measure performance.

° e Auditor General has raised this consistently and has been calling for it for some time now.

Under National, Ministers would face public scrutiny for how well di˛ erent programmes are working. It’s taxpayers’ money – and we all deserve to know what it’s being spent on but unless you’ve worked in the machine in Wellington, or have trained for years in accounting or economics, it’s impossible to work out how much money the Government spends, and where it all goes.

New Zealand’s economic engine must start humming again and these initiatives will be part of National’s process to restore the ÿ scal discipline that taxpayers deserve, and the economy needs.